Combined portable folding cot and tent.



J. A. WALKER. OOMBINED'PORTABLE FOLDING GOT AND TENT.

APPLICATION FILED, SEP'L-fi, 1908.

Patented, June ,15, 1909. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ca LYASfiINOfDN. 04 o v J. .A. WALKER. COMBINED PORTABLE FQLDING GOT ANDTENT.

APPLIOATION FILED 812F125, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

anomatoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. WALKER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED PORTABLE FOLDING COT AND TENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Combined Portable Folding Cotand Tent, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding cots and tents and has for its objectto provide a combined folding cot and tent construction which willprovide sheltered sleeping accommodation for a number of persons, andwhich can easily be set up or folded.

The invention further has for its object to provide a portable cot, andtent construction, which, when set up will be well braced in position,and will effectively shelter the occupants, and may be readily convertedinto a closed, or open tent as required.

The invention consists of a combined portable folding cot, and tentstructure, constructed, and arranged as hereinafter set forth, andclaimed.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion ofa combined tent, and cot structure, illustrating the invention. Fig. 2is a detail view partly in section of a part of the frame showing one ofits joints. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form ofthe invention.

In carrying out the invention an adjustable, and folding frame isprovided, preferably composed of gas pipe, or a light wood frame, andrope or other flexible material in which are supported cots located oneabove another, the said frame being covered by canvas, or other suitableflexible material. The frame consists of foldable cross legs or bars 1connected and pivoted together between their ends by a bolt 2, and nut 3the rods 1 being each preferably extensible and provided at its upperend with a smaller rod 4, having a hook 5 at its outer end, andadjustably connected at its other end with the rod 1 by a screw threadedend 6 extending through a tubular socket 7, mounted on the upper end ofthe rod and having a short lateral tubular bracket arm 8. A rope 9, extends through and is engaged by the hooks 5 on the pairs of end rods 4,the rope 9 extending transversely across the ends of the frame, and fromend to end thereof. A rope 10 is similarly arranged with respect to theend cross rods 1 and extends through eyes 11, or other suitable engagingdevices on the lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 451,799.

ends of the cross bars 1. Extending from end to end of the frame, andhaving their ends resting in the tubular sockets 8 are parallel tubularmembers, preferably in the form of gas pipes 12, on which are stretcheda strip of canvas 13, havin its side edges secured to the gas pipes 12by a hem 14, and serving as a cot. Similar parallel tubular members orgas pipes 15 have their ends mounted in shoes 16, having curved flanges17 engaging the rods 1 at some distance below their pivoted connection,and slidable thereon. A strip of canvas 18 is stretched on the gas pipes15 with its side edges secured thereto by a hem 19. It will thus be seenthat a pair of cots are supported on the end cross rods 1, at each endof the frame, one above, and the. other below the pivotal connection ofthe cross rods 1. By means of this construction and arrangement of thecots, and frame, the weight of the occupant of the cots, acts to spreadthe rods 1 apart and hold the canvas of the cots taut. At the same time,the ropes 9 and 10 are drawn taut by the spreading of the rods 1 and 4,thus insuring a rigid and steady frame.

By bearing a persons Weight on one of the side rails of the lower cotthe side of the cot will be forced down the shoes 16 moving down on theend rods 1, on one side and up on the end rods 1, on the opposite side,until the desired angle is reached to form an inclined couch. The frameis inclosed by a covering consisting of a top 20 of canvas or othersuitable flexible material, secured to the rope 9 by a hem 21, andprovided with a depending flap, or fringe 22. The sides, and ends of theframe are covered with detachable curtains 23, consisting of strips ofcanvas provided with hooks 24 at their upper ends, which hook over therope 9 on the inside and with hooks 25 adjacent to their lower endswhich hook over the rope 10 on the inside. The side curtains are made insections and can be secured together by buttons 24, in case of stormy orcold weather; or folded back forming an opening or door; or can beremoved entirely leaving the top covering.

In a hot climate, the upper cot will serve as an inner covering orceiling for the lower cot, while the top covering forms a fly, thusproviding a double air space.

By supporting the rods 1 on blocks the lower edge of the side curtainswill be raised from the ground, and air admitted, and by In Fig. 3 ofthe drawings there is'illustrated' a modified form of the invention inwhich the side, and end curtains 26 and 27 are reinforced andstrengthened by vertical and longitudlnal braces 28 and 29 so that saidcurtains may be swung laterally to open position to permit ventilationof theinterior of the tent. The rods 28 and 29 are preferably seated insuitable hems formed in the canvas designed to receive the same, saidcurtains being sup} ported in elevated or open position by means ofuprights or posts30, one of which is preferably disposed'at the cornerof each curtain,'as shown, The topor cover 31 of the tent is reinforcedand strengthened by arched braces 32 soasto form afree story at thetop'of the tent and thus allow for circulation of air above and belowthe cots 13. The upper portions of the end curtains 27 preferablyterminate in flaps'33 capable of being swung downwardly to open positionwhen the side and end curtains of the tent are closed, said flaps'beingsecured in closed position by buttons or similar fastening devices 34'.If desired, a suitable platform or floor 35 may 'be used in connectionwith this'form of tent, in which event, an auxiliary platform 36 may bearranged on each side of the main platform or floor 35 when the sidecurtains'are in open position so as to form an extended floor space forthe tent. The cross pieces 1 are preferably arranged to bear against theend walls of the intermediate floor section 35, but if desired, thesecross pieces may be supported on the upper surface of the flooringwithout de artin'g'from the spirit of the invention.

't will of course be understood that the hooks 5 shown in Fig. l of thedrawings will be used in connection with the structure shown in'Fi'g. 3so that the weight of a erson on the cots 13 will spread the cross'legsor pieces 1? and thus maintain the to or cover of the tent taut, in theman ner efore described.

By means of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore setforth, a simple and inexpensive structure is provided which can befolded up compactly, andcan be easily transported.

7 Having thus described the invention, 1 claim l 1. In a structure ofthe character described; a foldable frame including pivotally unitedlongitudinally extensible cross legs; cots mounted on said cross legsabove, and below their pivotal connections; retaining means operativelyconnected with the extended ends of the cross'legs, and a coveringsupported by the retaining means.

2. In a structure of the character described, a foldable frame includingpivoted cross'legs'; retaining devices extending 1011- gitudinally andtransversely to said cross legs and connected thereto; a coveringsupported by the retaining means, and spaced cots'secured to the crosslegs above and below their pivotal connections.

3. In a structure of the character described a foldable frame includingpivoted cross legs; flexible retaining devices connecting said crosslegs longitudinally and transvers'ely; a covering supported by theretaining devices, a cot mounted on the cross legs above their pivotalconnections and a cot slidably mounted on said cross legs below theirpivotal connections. I

4. In a structure of the character described; a foldable frame,consisting ofpivoted crossed end supports each provided'with alongitudinally adjustable section forming an extension; a cot mounted onthe end supports above their pivotal connections; a cot slidably mountedon the end supports below their pivotal connections, retaining meansconnecting the extensions of the end supports, and a covering supportedby the retaining means.

5L In a structure of the character described; a folda'ble. frame,consisting of extensible pivotally connected cross legs; retainingdevices, extending longitudinally, and transversely to said cross legsand connected thereto; cots mounted on the cross legs above and belowtheir pivotal connec tions, and a covering engaging the retainingdevices.

6. A combined foldable cot and tent structure; consisting of a folfdableframe having pivoted crossed end supports; cots mounted on the endsupports above and below their pivotal connections; upper and lowerretaining devices, extending longitudinally and transversely to the endsupports, and connected thereto, a flexibl'e top covering secured to theupper retaining device; andflexible side coverings, connected to theupper and lower retaining devices.

7. In a structure of the character 'described, pivoted crossed supports;a cot mounted on the end supports above their pivotal connections, and acot mounted on the end supports below their pivotalconn'ections, andshoes slidably mounted on the end supports and connected with oneof thecots.

8. In a structure of the character described, pivoted crossed endsupports with tubular brackets attheir upper ends; extension membersadjustably mounted in said brackets; a cot with side rails detachablymounted in said brackets; flanged shoesslidably mounted on'th'e' lowerportion'of'the end supports"; a cot with side rails detachably mountedin said shoes; -andflexible retaining devices extending longitudinally,and transversely to the end supports, and connected to their ends. I p

9. A combined'folding cot,and tent structure; consisting of a foldableframe having pivoted crossed end supports, cots mounted on the endsupports above and below their pivotal connections; upper and lowerropes extending lengthwise, and transversely to said frame, andconnected to the ends of the end supports, a top covering secured to theupper rope; and detachable side curtains with hooks at top and bottomengaging the upper and lower ropes.

10. In a structure of the character described, a foldable frameincluding a plurality of sets of pivotally united longitudinallyextensible cross legs, a cot interposed between the cross legs ofadjacent sets, shoes slidably mounted on the cross legs beneath thepivotal axis thereof and operatively connected with the adjacent edgesof the cot, a covering, and retaining means operatively connected withthe cross legs and covering, respectively.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. WALKER.

WVitnesses:

DAN S. HAMMAOK, GEORGIE WATsoN.

